Maternity, 1963, 2003 Estate of Pablo Picasso/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative:

A Part of the Global Strategy

1. State the aim of the WHO/UNICEF Global

Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding;
2. Outline the aims of the Baby-Friendly Hospital
Initiative (BFHI);
3. Describe why BFHI is important in areas of high
HIV prevalence;
4. Explain how this course can assist this facility
at this time.
5. Review how this course fits with other activities

About 5500 children die everyday

Suffer long-term effects:
> impaired development
> malnutrition
> increased infectious / chronic
illness
> rising rates of obesity in
children

The aim of the Global Strategy

to improve
through optimal feeding nutritional status,
growth & development, health, & thus the
survival of infants & young children.
It supports exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months,
with timely, adequate, safe & appropriate
complementary feeding, while continuing
breastfeeding for two years and beyond.
It also supports maternal nutrition & social
& community support.
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-implement the Ten Steps to

Successful Breastfeeding
-end the distribution of free
& low-cost supplies of
breastmilk substitutes to
health facilities

Special needs of HIV+ women can

be accommodated.

WHO/UNICEF policy statement, the

right to information & support.

Continue to support women who are

HIV (-) or unknown status.

Discuss the Ten Steps & how to

implement them

Importance of making the facility

Baby Friendly

Talk about practices related to

marketing of breastmilk substitutes

Assessment process

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every staff member will

confidently
support mothers with early and
exclusive breastfeeding
and that this facility moves
towards achieving Baby-friendly
designation.

Communication skills
Implement 10 steps, abide by the EO
51
Discuss importance of breastfeeding
Facilitate skin to skin contact
Positioning and attachment
Support BF upon discharged
Know whom & where to refer
Seek ways to overcome barriers

How the global strategy fits with other

activities
supported by national policies, laws &
programs to promote, protect and support
breastfeeding and protect the rights of
working women to maternity protection.
National programs like:
IYCF / EO 51 / BFHI / maternity leave laws